WEST VIRGINIA MAT THOUGHTS

... on Making Excuses

Today, a number of parents have found the panacea or cure-all for coping with their children's athletic failures. And that is to MAKE EXCUSES!

Yes, it's so much easier to criticize the coach or the official. This leaves the participant (son or daughter) totally "off-the-hook." You know, it takes moxie for a parent to be objective when his child falls short of winning. My father was of such a breed.

The story I am about to relate to you is what I learned from Dad, pertaining to "passing the buck." William Howard Welker watched my brother and me wrestle over 200 abouts during our mat stints (and we had our share of losses). Furthermore, I know that there were many questionable "calls" that didn't go our way. However, not once did Dad accuse the referee of cheating or the coach of letting his boys down. He placed the blame where it belonged--on our shoulders!

When either one of us lost a match, Father usually made one of the following "Seven-Cardinal- Sins-Of-Wrestling" statements:

• 1. You weren't mentally prepared.
• 2. You better train harder next time.
• 3. You let him get the first takedown.
• 4. You didn't explode off the bottom.
• 5. You stalled on top instead of working for the fall.
• 6. You shouldn't have been on your back; officials don't call pins when you are standing up.
• 7. You quit out there. (Oh, that one always hurt the pride.)

Updated July 21, 1997